Hikma Pharma achieves remarkable H1 results

LONDON — Amman-based Hikma Pharmaceuticals Plc announced on Wednesday a 44 per cent jump in first-half profit helped by a strong performance at its US injectibles business, but the company cut its sales growth forecast for branded drugs citing shipment issues in some North African markets.

The Jordanian drugmaker, which makes and markets branded and non-branded generics and injectibles, lowered its full-year revenue growth forecast for the branded drugs business to a low-single digit percentage from about 10 per cent earlier.

Hikma said limited availability of foreign currency reserves restricted product shipments in Sudan, while a restructuring of distribution channels in Algeria dragged on sales in that country in the first half.

The Middle East and North Africa region accounted for 40 per cent of Hikma's branded drugs sales.

"The growth is going to slow in these markets... It might be slightly below last year, but we continue to expect to supply products into these markets," Chief Financial Officer Khalid Nabilsi told Reuters.

The company expects political disruptions in Iraq and Libya to further impact sales this year.

Hikma shares fell as much as 2.3 per cent on Wednesday morning on the London Stock Exchange.

"The only disappointment that came out of the first-half results was the weakness of the branded business as Sudan and Algeria performances disappointed," UBS analysts said in a note.

Injectibles sales soar

Hikma, which was founded in Amman in 1978, said adjusted profit attributable to shareholders rose 44 per cent to $176 million in the six months ended June 30.

Earnings rose 16 per cent to $738 million. Income from injectibles rose 41 per cent to $346 million.

The company, which benefitted from a shortage of the antibiotic doxycycline last year, said in May that it was focusing on high-value products in its injectibles business.

Adjusted operating margins in the business rose to 41 per cent in the first half from 28.5 per cent a year earlier.

"This reflects exceptionally strong sales from certain market opportunities in the US, a focus on higher-value products and tight control of overhead costs across our manufacturing facilities," the company said.

Hikma strengthened its injectibles business earlier this year by acquiring Boehringer Ingelheim's US generic injectibles business and manufacturing operations in Ohio.

According to Nabilsi, the company's low net-debt-to-EBITDA ratio even after the acquisition gave it significant headroom for more acquisitions.

"We have a war chest of $1 billion plus for acquisitions, so we have increased the number of merger and acquisition and business development teams across different regions," he said.

The company said it would pay a special dividend of 4 cents per share. It's regular interim dividend was unchanged at 7 cents per share.

Hikma paid a special dividend of 3 pence per share last year to reflect the strong performance of its generics business.

Hikma shares were down 1.6 per cent at 1775 pence at 0945 GMT. The stock has gained 50.4 per cent this year until Tuesday.